CAC Athletes Bossing it at the National XC Championships.

TWO - YES TWO NATIONAL TEAM TITLES PLUS BRONZE MEDALS FOR A THIRD TEAM AND AN INDIVIDUAL SECOND. Quite an achievement in the National cross country championships staged in Weston Park, Shropshire - and perhaps worthy of a football type celebration with an open bus tour through the city centre !!!

These were in fact championships in respect of the season 2023 - 24 as the Park could not be used due to the saturation of the ground hence athletes competing at one age level in the EYAL final six days earlier back, for one competition only to the younger age group.

Our under 13 girls team had already claimed one National title when they won the road relay early in the season and now they were to pick up another set of `gold` medals. With Erin Kelly 10th, Ava King 11th, Lily Sanford 28th and Frankie Phillips 36th there total of 85 points put them well clear of the Warriors Club from Merseyside's 105 and Windsor Slough and Eton`s 153.  From the field of 267 finishers  Isla Kehoe placed 89th and Emma Pickering 106th.

To the under 13 boys, here we had two athletes on the start line Fred Ferman put in a sterling run to finish 26th unfortunately Oscar Stollery did not finish.

The under 15 girls race saw newcomer Jorjia March having a great run to finish 5th and there was sound packing from Ezrah Harrold 14th, Lottie Wilkin 17th and Daisy Stollery 22nd for a score of 58 points. To show the need for that solid packing Aldershot`s second place score was 68 with Eastbourne third with 101. Our other competitors were Hetty Harrison 62nd,Harriet Matthews 74th and Katie Cox 126th.

Our under 15 boys all put in fine performances with a third place in such a high standard meeting behind Tonbridge and Trafford. Our scoring quartet were Jacob Parrott 23rd, Austin Kelly 32nd, Joshua Eida 39th and Joseph Delaney 57th with Thomas Carter 78th and Ben Smith 148th completing the Chelmsford turnout.

Our under 17 men`s team had looked set for more team medals as Sam Plummer had put in a tremendous performance to take the individual silver medal and with Joseph Grainger 8th and Gregory Martin 23rd they were in a strong position but sadly there was no fourth member.

It was the same story with the under 17 women as Sienna Shipton placed 19th, Lucy Nuttall 32nd and Emma Cox 52nd.

To the Junior men and  William Nuttall placed a very creditable 13th with Joseph Perry 28th whilst veteran Lee Martin was sole member out  placing 221st in the senior men`s race.

For the full photo gallery click here.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

An EYAL Double, Double for our Brilliant Juniors.

What a way to finish the season - after having already retained the Eastern Young Athletes League title as they went through the season unbeaten our youngsters now also kept their hold on the League Cup trophy with yet another convincing win -  having an advantage of 47 points over hosts Shaftesbury Barnet.

With a points advantage  over nearest rivals Havering of 41 points the under 15 girls  had  many excellent performances and leading the way was Monica Malagala as she recorded three wins - taking the hammer  (41.95m), shot putt (12.78m) and discus (29.47m) and in this later event Maddison Poulter (24.06) won the `B`string. Indeed the throw’s proved to be good scoring events as Olivia Mullineaux placed second in the `B` discus whilst there were two seconds from the javelin with Saya Saunders and Maddison Poulter. On the track maximum points came from the middle distance as Erin Kelly (2m 20.17s) and Issabella Eida (2m25.46s) took the honours in the 800m. In the 1500m Ava King (4m 49,81s) and Lily Sanford (4.57.37s) were in command. No wins from the sprints but from the 100m came two second places via Alicija Yaluja and Michelle Shadipe whilst the 200m brought personal best for Isabella Johnson (26.72s) and Abigail McElroy (27.26s). The 300m also brought a pb with Erin Kelly (43.49s) placed second. The combination of Chelsea Clarke and Amy Pugsley proved to be very proficient as they took full points from the hurdles and high jump whilst dropping only one point from the long jump. To the 4 x 100 relay and yet another win was recorded.

On to the under 17 girls and here they scored an almost identical score as the under 15`s  although Dacorum`s second place was closer. The partnership of Amelie Scott and Milana Thorpe dropped only one point of the 24 available in the hurdles and long jump - this later event saw a pb for Milana of 5.11m.  Later Amelie was teamed up with Olivia Hall to take full points in the triple jump whilst Milana placed second in the javelin. Matilda Hewitt again had wins in the shot and discus (Lily Frost took the`B`string win in the later) . Matilda had also placed second in the hammer throw. Maximum points came from the 800 metres with Sienna Shipton and Lottie Wilkin. Sienna also finished second in the 300 metres recording a pb of 41.41s. with Lucy Bulman second in the `B` race. Over 1500m  both Daisy Stollery and Katie Cox took second spots.

At under 13 level Shindra Ayo-Adeyeme scored well from the hurdles, high jump and shot putt, Maya Siklodi (hurdles) and Olvwatikeyin Osei (shot) winning the `B` strings. There was a double for Isla Kehoe from the 1500m and javelin.

For the under 13 boys Bevan Dove came up with two pb`s recording 9.81 with the shot and 29.41m with the discus. These events also brought maximum points    with Nat Vickers with 8.13m in the shot also achieving pb and Nicholas Cracknell winning the `B`string discus. Two pb`s came from the high jump via Jamie Roberts-John and Max Good. Maximum points from the discus with David Brown setting a pb of 22.98m with Nicholas Cracknell taking  a win from the `B`string after recording a pb in the 200 metres .                                                                                                                                      

A string of pb`s came from the under 15 boys. With Jake Read clearing 1.7om in the high jump as he took first place and  both 200m runners =Jakus Skamla and Zach Ikharebore with Tommy Hewitt gaining his from the javelin. Joshua Babolola with a throw of 57.24 won the hammer , Jeremy Andersen was a clear winner in the shot putt an event which gave Dexter  Burton a pb of 9.83m for second place. In the middle distance races Joseph Delaney and Luke Webb both took second spots in the 800m  with Jacob Parrott and Fred Ferman doing likewise in the 1500m.

Finally to the under 17 men, they may not have topped the points chart but there was a close finish being only six points back from Havering`s total of 108. Obviously this could not have been so without fine individual performances such as from Harry Lee winning the hurdles and then achieving pb`s in the discus and 200 metres. The 1500 metres provided maximum points through Jacob Hurrell and Austin Kelly and it was a full points in the long jump via Stephen Adesina and Daniel Brown. Dan and Ben Whatley came up with pb`s in the 400 metres. There was another pb from Charlie Pyner with his 1.94m in the high jump and Arsenii Handzil winning the `B`string made this another full pointer. Oscar Dove after a second place in the hammer produced a pb in the triple jump and back to the track with a win for Thomas Carter in the `B` string 800 metres.

Not possible to mention all competitors but be assured that those points gained by others proved to be vital in our success - a REAL TEAM EFFORT- well done all.      

For the full image gallery click here

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

Kissi's World Adventure.

We are incredibly proud of this young lady.

After he second place in the U20 200m at the UK Championships in Birmingham this year Kissiwaa Mensah was one of only 16 women selected by British Athletics to contest the Bi-Annual World U20 Championships which this time round was held in Lima, Peru. 

Down to represent GB&NI for the 200 metres and the 4x100 metre relay. Kissiwaa went through from the 200m heats with a 23.92s to the semi finals placing fourth with a 23.90s and just missing out on going through to the final. The 4 x 100 relay unfortunately brought about disqualification.